we went camping, part II // Fall 2014

So here's Part II of our camping adventure... You can find Part I here

I had a sinus surgery last week... I will spare everyone the disgusting details {and save those for my nearest and dearest ;) } ... but I'm still recovering.

Maybe I'll write about it here sometime.. But tonight's not the night for putting pen to paper. (because, you know, Monday.  And tired brain)

Izzy loved these!  And loved collecting them in her red wagon with the cute little boy in the tent next door... 

Our next camping adventure is next month!  

Wahoo!

xx, 

Cassie 

19 months

Dear Isabel, 

These pictures were taken on the weekend you learned how to hoist yourself out of your crib, lower yourself to the ground, and reclaim your control of naptime... ;)  I must admit that I felt a surge of pride when I saw what you could do... It's no small athletic feat, considering the crib bar is at your chin... Your determination, obstinacy, independence and fearlessness are traits that I hope you never lose. 

When I found you at your bedroom door, red faced and snotty nosed and banging for your freedom.. I had to keep myself from laughing and smiling.. It was a sight...One that I was not expecting... I thought we had another few months before you figured out how to do it.  

These days, you twirl and dance and spin when we play the Lonely Goatherd song from the Sound of Music record... You repeat almost anything, in your voice... You put your baby to bed, and say "nigh nigh baby"... you take our hands and lead us through the house to whatever it is you've got in your mind... if you see a schoolbus in a book, you run into another room to find your toy schoolbus... you do this for pumpkins, turtles, baby dolls... you understand SO MUCH and are talking constantly - fluent in your babble.. and adding more words to your vocab all the time.... we love your vocab... 'monkey' sounds like 'mama'... 'coffee' sounds like 'caca' (you and i make my coffee together most mornings).. you say 'milk', 'baba', 'nigh nigh'... 'no', 'bye', 'hello', 'yeah', 'please' is 'theee'.. 'cheese' is not far from that sound... you say 'dog'.. 'yogurt', 'gorilla'... 'blueberry' sounds like 'bebaby'.... if you find my cell phone, you say 'mama' and you bring it to me.. same with dada's cell phone.... OH and i cannot forget-- you sing the clean up song (to yourself!) when you're picking something up and putting it where it belongs.. it sounds like "neeeee nah .. neeee nah" ... your aunt cait and gigi taught it to you fyi... you love putting your dirty clothes in your laundry basket, helping me clean, helping wash dishes, and you will throw anything into the trashcan that we ask you (and some things that we don't)..... ;) 

You are our most favorite, most fun, MOST goofy and silly and sweet person..

xx

M 

Beachy Heaven

{more pics on Instagram, you can follow @_cassie_h }

Maybe my favorite week ever.  Beach times with my little pod. More on that later.... Just wanted to share some pics... The pool is calling my name right now.. {and so is Izzy actually ;) }

Don't forget that you can get 20% off anything at the Kerubins Baby Boutique online store, using the code HOMEANDSASS. See my blog entry from last week for photos and more deets about the company :) 

XX

Cassie 

May Days

{head-wear is a Beaufort Bonnet}

That is our toddling, teething {first 2 are finally debuting}, signing {she signs for all-done! though i think she means 'pick me up now please'}, spinach slurping {she loves it- string cheese too - and strawberries, duh}, yelling {ask me about the lunchtime concert for Hozier that we attempted, ha!}, kiss giving {she kisses her doll baby! and us!}, uh-oh saying {she says it for fun, and for oopsies dropsies} goofy, grinning, laughing, stroller-loving, precious little angel pie. 

I could not have dreamt of a more joyful little creature.  

And oh man, what a creature she is!!  Will and I often look at each other, as she's walking all over the place, squealing & laughing, and we say with our eyes -- "WHERE did she come from?? WHO is this tiny-baby-person-creature and WHAT do we do with her??"

It's quite fun, this age. 

xx

Cassie

Saving Up

Something I'm learning about babies is that there are these little tiny moments and little tiny wonderful things that they do that make them uniquely babies.

I wish that I could bottle those up and save those little moments. 

And carry them with me.

They're not photograph-able, or video-able... 

They're those spontaneous little noises or
reactions or looks or
glances... 

They're those silly faces with the tongue and the eyebrows...

They're the sound of lips smacking together tasting new food. 

They're the songs of soft 'baba's' and 'dada's' coming from the back seat of the car.... 

They're the way that she rests her head on my shoulder and lays her arm across my chest as she's falling back to sleep... 

They're the slobbery 'kisses' that come lunging for you
across the bed... 

They're the scampering crawl 

towards the dog//trashcan//day-old puff//tall glass vase///
and towards you...

The look of excitement as she stands,
as she swings,
as she bounces.
Her soft snore...
Her sleep positions// bottom in the air,
horizontal,
face in my face.

The purest smiles.
The most carefree squeals.

I'm wrapping them carefully..
And saving them.
Because I know that the next day will be
flooded with more.


X

Cassie

Izzy's First Noel /// A Highlight Reel

Well, I've stayed up wayyy past my bedtime editing these pictures.  {Thanks to a bag of Hershey kisses and Bravo's nasty Vanderpump Rules }.  This was a special year for us, it being Isabelie's first Christmas.  We were so lucky to be able to spend that time with our families, and it flew by much too fast for my liking.

Some of our favorite things: dressing Izzy up like a sweet Christmas doll; super-thoughtful gifts from family {ahem: Will & Cait!!!}, wearing perma-pjs for the day, my mom's lamb on the grill, Will's mom's turkey.... watching others open their gifts, all of that wonderful Christmas music.. the traditional hymns.. the Frasier Fir smell... the lights...

That Christmasey feeling is the best, and going back to work a couple of days after all of that festivity felt very very wrong... There's something about the end of vacations, especially in the winter... it can feel quite depressing and melancholy.  

I start to get that old boarding-school-sad-ache, and it's mighty hard to shake it.  The trees are bare, the sun is low, the sky is grey.. Throw in some freezing temps & lots of darkness?? Pretty gross. 

Which is why I'd like to leave the Christmas tree up til, oh I don't know.... March?  

Can we agree on March? {Will??}
Hot yoga is also a good solution.
Hot yoga & hot chocolate. A little winter band-aid. 

That ornament is already broken... :(

Izzy with my dad & mom

Will's sissie, Cait.

Izzy with Will's dad

the 2 Wills :) bro & hub

Will's sister made that hat!!!  We're all obsessed with it. :)

Merry Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!!

XO

 Cassie